A Belt and Shoes

The other day I left the house and I forgot my belt. Now, for those of you who do not wear a belt EVERY DAY this may not sound like such a travesty. But, for me, it was!

I did not necessary NEED a belt, my pants seemed to fit just fine (in fact all of my pants seem to be getting snugger these days). So because I did not NEED my belt that morning, I simply forgot to put it on.

And I had no time to return home to get my belt. You see, I was out visiting with members of our church and members of our community and I had no way to return home to grab a belt. So, throughout the day this lack of belt was all that I seemed to think about. It was as if my entire day was thrown off simply because I did not have my belt on.

As soon as I returned home that evening I quickly went into my closet to get a belt and I put it on. Taking a deep breath of relief I was able to go o with the rest of my day knowing that all was well.

The next day, when I opened my closet, my belt was not hanging in its normal spot in the closet. Looking to the floor I saw that it had fallen down next to my shoes. That's when it hit me, I would never forget my shoes!

You see, shoes are a necessity (for me). If I leave my house without my shoes on, I quickly realize it and I return to my closet to slide a pair on. And there is the real truth, there is a huge difference between an accessory and a necessity.

This drew my mind to Ephesians chapter 5 and the "full armor of God". In Ephesians 5 Paul urges the church the put on the full armor of God, one item being the "belt of truth". We are to put it on simply because it is a part of the "full armor of God".

So, are you wearing the "full armor of God"? Is is an accessory in your life or is it something that is necessary to your daily walk - your daily battles?

2015 Preaching Calendar

Well, another year of preaching is in the books! I am humbled and honored whenever I consider the reality that I speak on behalf of God on a regular basis. It is beyond comprehension to me that God has counted me worthy of His name and that people listen (sometimes intently) to the words I speak.

In 2015 our church family decided to use a whole-church curriculum, implementing it in our children, youth, and adult classes, small groups, and sermons. This was particularly strange to me as it (broadly) dictated what passages I preached from each week. Because I could never preach another person's sermon, nor would I desire to, I developed a preaching calendar based on the 31 chapters (plus one for Easter) of The Story. I am a series preacher and found that planning our specific series helped me in the preparation of the sermons because I had a focused theme to concentrate on. I also believe that preaching various sermon series over the course of 32 weeks helped keep our church family to stay better connected to the themes. Likewise, I found that developing six different series kept the church family from getting bored because the images and illustrations used changed from month to month and (sometimes) week to week.



I tried my best to keep a flow from start to finish of The Story. Yet, for those who did not recognize the theme, I thought I would share what the plan looked like in my mind more than a year ago. And, where I failed to adequately convey the theme or the subject matter, you have the outline before you and, perhaps on paper it will make sense.

Clean Bath Tub

I cleaned the bathtub today. I typically clean the bathroom once a week and wipe the tub out every other week. But today, I deep cleaned the bathtub to get all the soap scum and hard water deposits off. 

I knew that this task was overdue and that it was something that needed to be done after several months. However, I did not realize until I started just how dirty the bathtub was. With every swipe of the Magic Eraser I was taking off layers of soap scum. 

I was not looking for any praise for this completed chore, however, after my wife saw the tub, she thanked me for cleaning it and told me just how nice it looked. 

Then it struck me, the cleanness of the tub was obvious, she did not need a before and after picture. I thought, "we don't realize the filth that we're sitting in until after we see it all stripped away".

And isn't this true of our lives as well? Most of us sit for years in our own "filth" - whether that be an addiction, abuse, depression, worry, or many other things. And, for most, we do not realize the extent of our filth until it has all be striped away. Month after month - year after year - we allow the feelings of sorrow, hatred, worry, or doubt to accumulate. Every month that we sit in our " filth" makes cleaning it up more difficult. And, for some, they never see the beauty of a clean, healthy life. 

The great news for us is that we do not have to clean up our "filth" ", we simply have to turn our lives - our past, present, and future - over to God. He filters our "filth" through the sacrifice of Chrst and sees our beauty, cleaning out "filth" up and helping us see the beauty around us and allowing us to live a clean life in Him. 

I Want To Know Christ

Philippians has become one of my favorite books in the Bible. Philippians can be summarized as Paul's letter describing joy in the midst of suffering. 

There are several key verses that I can point to to tell you why Philippians

has become one of my favorite books in the Bible; 

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (1:21)

...in humility value others above yourselves... (2:3)

...continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. (2:12-13) 

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. (3:7) 

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal,but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (3:12-14) 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (4:6) 

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (4:8) 

...I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (4:11-13)

Yet, given all of these verses, there is one that resonates with me the greatest right now;

I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. (3:10-11)

Yes, This was Paul's greatest desire, to know Christ. 

He wanted to fully experience the presence of Jesus Christ. He wanted to feel His power - the power that created the heavens and the earth, the power that made the lame walk, the power that healed the afflicted, the power that called the dead back to life, the power that calmed the wind and the waves, the power that delivered the possessed, the power that sent Satan running, the power that brought Him out from the tomb.  

He wanted to participate in the sufferings of Jesus Christ. He wanted to feel the deep connection to God the Father that would be required in the midst of suffering, opposition, and and persecution. 

And, this should be our greatest desire, to know Christ.

We should have the desire to know Christ, to experience His power, and to participate with Him in suffering.

However, this is only possible through one thing, through rejoicing in Jesus Christ.

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy... (1:4)

The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice... (1:18) 

I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith... (1:25) 

...make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. (2:2) 

But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. (2:17) 

So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. (2:18) 

So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him... (2:29) 

Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! (3:1) 

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends! (4:1) 

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (4:4) 

I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. (4:10)

You see, it is through our joy in Christ and our rejoicing in the midst of all situations that we will know Christ - experiencing His power and participating with Him in suffering. 

And, through our joy in Christ the world will be drawn to Jesus Christ. 

Furthermore, through our rejoicing in the midst of all situations, our brothers in sisters in Christ will be encouraged and they will draw closer to Christ - in all situations.

Connected To My Truck

Two weeks ago I got a new (used) Ford Ranger. It was a deal that I could not pass up! When my wife told me about this truck, she mentioned that it was a manual transmission and, knowing that I have driven automatic transmissions since she met me, she asked if I knew how to drive a manual. I don't, but I'm sure I'll pick it up, it can't be too difficult.

For the first day or so after we got the truck I skipped around in the parking lot and down some of the side streets throughout our neighborhood, I killed the engine a couple dozen times as I learned the delicate balance of shifting into first gear, and I jarred the kids heads into the headrests several times as I they rode along with me. Then, I began to get the hang of driving a manual transmission truck.

The key to learning to drive this truck was simply getting a sense for when I was about to stall the engine and applying more gas or more clutch. Once I was connected to the truck in this way I found that getting it into first gear was simple. Likewise, having an established connection, where I could feel when the engine was being strained gave me the knowledge needed to shift up or shift down when I would drive this truck around town. And, this connection could only be established through time spent driving the truck.

When I considered this new connection with my truck I also considered other connections in my life; my connection with my children, with my wife, and with Christ. Wouldn't it be amazing if I could establish a connection with people in my life in the same way I have created a connection with my truck? Wouldn't it be amazing if I could sense when I am drifting away or, even better, if I could sense a need in their life or in my life to draw closer? wouldn't it be amazing if I could establish a connection so great that when their is pain, hurt, or sorrow, that I could immediately make an adjustment to correct the situation before the relationship begins to strain or, much worse, stalls out.

I desire this type of connection with my children, my wife, and with Christ. And I desire this level of a connection, where I can sense a drift and a strain int he relationships that we share. However this level of a connection can only come through one thing. This level of connection comes through the same thing that I was willing to pour into my truck and into learning to sense its needs, time.

I wonder what relationships are important to you. I wonder if you have the same desire to see a connection to people in your life as I do - to sense a drift or a strain as it is happening. I wonder if you are willing to pour in the needed time to see the connections made in these relationships established. Let us begin today.

Stand With God

2 Kings 25:1; It was during his reign that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded the country. Jehoiakim became his puppet. But after three years he had had enough and revolted. (The Message) 

Jehoiakim was the King of Judah, in the line of David, through whom would come the Messiah. The Hebrew name "Jehoiakim" means "he whom Yahweh has set up". 

What does it mean that Jehoiakim became Nebuchadnezzar's "puppet"? It means that he served him, bowed to his rule - even his gods. Furthermore, we know that, according to 2 Kings 23, Jehoiakim heavily taxed the Israelites and gave the money to Pharaoh. 

The bottom line is that God desires people that are fully committed to Him, heart, mind, and soul. God is looking for people who will stand for Him, in the good and the bad. 

Will we be a people that stand for God? 

Searching For A Church Home

I was asked by a good friend tonight if I would pray for their family. They are currently in the midst of looking for a church home and are struggling to find a church that truly feels like "home".

I asked a few questions before giving the following advice. Visit a church and see what you think. Have fun with it and make sure you enjoy going to church. Make sure the Pastor and the people trip over themselves to welcome you and make you feel like family, that's how you'll know when you find the right church. You must find a church that blesses you and one that allows you to be a blessing to them. 

I pray that this advice leads them to a church home quickly, but I also pray that God speaks to them in the midst of their "search".

If you are looking for a church to call "home", the above advice is what I would send you out with as well. If you have a church home, take the necessary steps to ensure that the above can be said about you by every member and every guest that walks through the doors of your church this week. 

It is God's desire that we live in community with Him and with one another. The Church - created by Jesus and empowered by The Holy Spirit is God's means of encouraging and equipping His community. So, for the sake of Jesus, by the will of God, let's make it pleasant and easy for people to be a part of The Church.